Below is the transcript of my interview with Mrs. Quinn of the Parent Advisory Committee of Reynolds School a few years back. I feel it gives you a better picture of who I am.  A special thanks to Mrs. Quinn for taking the time to get to know me and compiling this informaiton.

Where did you go to college? I began my college career at Rhode Island College in 1983. I majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education. I recieved a M.Ed. from Providence College. After my two children were enrolled and adjusted to elementary school, in 2003 I decided to go back to school. After much debating about programs offered within the state, I decided upon a leadership program offered by Boston University in which only 10 teachers a year are accepted, I completed an intense one year leadership program of seven courses designed to certify experienced teachers as adminstrators.

Where did you work before coming to our school? I was hired by Bristol in September 1987 at Guiteras School when it served grades 6&7. I worked at that time as a Special Educator for children with behavioral difficulties that interferred with their learning. I continued in that realm for about 4 years and then became a fifth grade teacher at Colt Andrews School. I still felt the attraction to the children that found learning more difficult. I then paired up with another teacher, a special educator, and together we created a highly successful collaborative program in which students with moderate to severe disabilities were housed in a "typical" fifth grade classroom and provided accomodations and modifications to ensure their success. During that time frame I began working on curriculum projects within the district as well as provide building based professional developement. That may have been the seed to my administrative growth. I spent many years at Colt Andrews and then transferred over to Guiteras School about seven years ago. I completed my Internship there while teaching a fifth grade classroom. Three years ago I was the Administrative Intern at Mary V. Quirk and Hugh Cole Schools. My duties included the primary adminstrative responsibilities of Mary V. Quirk School, grades 4&5 and collaboration of adminstrative duties of Hugh Cole School, preschool through grade 3. For the past two years, as principal of Reynolds Arts Magnet School I concentrated my efforts on understanding the difference between a connection, a correlation and an integrated art.  I am most proud to be a part of the new Colt Andrews School and in having a hand in creating a state of the art facility for the rest of the children of Bristol and Warren.

What is your "teaching philosophy"? I think my philosophy become more amoeba-like with each new thing I learn. I had written a beautiful two page philosophy for a leadership class once but I think I can describe it in just a few words and then quote from two authors that I read this past summer. ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN: WE, AS A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY JUST NEED TO FIND THE WAY THEY BEST LEARN..... WHATEVER IT TAKES! McTighe and Tomlinson, 2006, state: Professionals in any field are distinguished by two characteristics.... 1. They act on the most current knowledge that defines the field 2. They are client centered (in our case student centered) and adapt to meet the needs of the individual. 

What is your favorite food? I like so much it's hard to pick one, I would have to say its Stuffed Shells, my mother has made them for me on my birthday for many many years and now my husband has taken over that duty. They are very time consuming to make from scratch but I always know I will have my favorite food on my birthday!

What is your favorite color? My favorite color would definitely be in the yellow spectrum somewhere!
But I can't wear yellow! I absolutely love the combination of yellow and blue together!

What is your favorite song? My absolutely favorite song in "You are My Sunshine" my father sang it to me when I was a little girl and I have special memories sitting on his lap while he sang and now I sing it to my children all the time.

What is your favorite book? I read a lot. Too much some say! One children's book that touches my heart is Love you Forever which is about the circle of life with a young boy who grows to be a man and his mother. As with most people, Good Night Moon rates high on the list probably from reading it so much as does Love that Dog. As a fifth grade teacher I always especially enjoyed the books that related to my Social Studies curriculum. Another that I read often to my fifth grade class in an effort to ensure safety was Mick Harte was Here. It is quite a depressing book in one sense but it teaches so many traumatic social issues pertinient to ten year olds who ride bikes without a helmet. It covers death of a loved one, grieving, traumatic brain injury and going on with life with memories.

How do you most enjoy spending your free time? I spend my free time with my husband and children. We try to make our time together filled with as much quality as possible. We all love the beach and travel to Chatham often. We do enjoy reading, tennis, baseball, and getting together with good friends for dinner at each other's houses as often as possible. Family and good friends are the support in this ever hectic world in which we live.